TEAM OF THE CENTURY

The Sturt Football Club “Team of the 20th Century” boasts a combined 3,619 games played, 3,971 goals kicked, 6 Magarey Medallists, 7 All Australians, 13 Club Captains, 5 State Captains, 1 All Australian Captain, 16 Premiership Players, 12 Club Champions, 18 Sturt Hall of Fame Members, 13 South Australian Football Hall of Fame Members and 6 Australian Football Hall of Fame Members. Please see below for the selected team and detailed information on each member.

Guernsey Number: 16Years of Service: 1962-1974Games: 259Goals: 6Premierships: 1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1974State Games: 20All Australian: 1966Member – The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year: 1965,1966,1967,1968,1971
Member – Jack Oatey Vintage 21 Team
Inaugural Member – Sturt Hall of Fame Inaugural Member – South Australian Football Hall of Fame

In 100 years only one back pocket player stands out at Unley – Brenton Adcock, a rugged, dashing and highly reliable defender, Adcock’s greatest attribute was his uncanny ability to read the play and rebound to the advantage of his team, he played one of his best games in a Sturt guernsey in the 1967 Grand Final against Port Adelaide in which the Blues came from behind in the last quarter to win and was arguably best on ground. His 259th and last game in the Double Blue was the winning 1974 Grand Final, thus finishing his stellar career as a six time premiership player, an All Australian in 1966 and having represented South Australia twenty times.

For the first half of his league career he played up forward, leading the club goalkicking six times, but when he was moved down back he transformed into becoming the most outstanding Sturt full back of the 20th century. Brilliant, well balanced and equally skilled with foot or hand, Golding had the ideal temperament for the game, that one Melbourne critic dubbed him “the greatest goalkeeper the game had ever seen”. He led South Australia to a memorable victory on the MCG against Victoria in 1926, represented the State a club record twenty eight times, played in three premiership teams and was also the first SANFL footballer to play 200 games.

Despite his small size, Riley was the Bagshaw of the 1920’s, a splendid highflyer who made the game look easy and when he flew for a mark he excited the crowd to the extent that they would chant “Riley, Riley, Riley”. Winner of the 1923 Magarey Medal and an important member of the 1926 premiership team, Riley gave many fine displays in the Double Blue guernsey during his career and was also an automatic State selection, he represented South Australia with distinction on twenty occasions.

A superb and versatile footballer of the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Shearman will always be remembered for his unrivalled prodigious kicking (He won the 1968 and 1971 Champion Kick of Australia competition), strong and clever, he could play any position on the field with ease. Originally from Victoria, where he debuted as a 16 year old, he played in two Grand Finals for Essendon before coming to South Australia and joining West Torrens. At the end of 1964 he was so eager to transfer to the Blues that he stood out of football for the 1965 season to gain clearance, the wait was worth it, for both Shearman and Sturt, as he became a driving force behind the Blues “golden era” and went on to play in five premiership winning teams, was club captain for four years, including two as premiership captain and played thirteen games for South Australia.

Guernsey Number: 5Years of Service: 1951-1955,1959-1962Games: 125Goals: 201Captain: 1952-1955Best and Fairest: 1952,1953,1954Club Leading Goalkicker: 1954 (41 Goals)State Games: 20Magarey Medal: 1952,1954,1959All Australian: 1953Coach: 1952-1955Inaugural Member – Sturt Hall of Fame Inaugural Member – South Australian Football Hall of FameInaugural Member – Australian Football Hall of Fame

One of the greatest players to have ever worn the Sturt guernsey, simply outstanding and extremely versatile, Fitzgerald is the only triple Magarey Medallist, all of which were won whilst playing in different positions, in the club’s history and he was without a doubt the number one player at Unley in the 1950’s. An inaugural member of the All Australian team in 1953 and winner of the club’s best and fairest three times in a row, he also represented South Australia twenty times. In 1996 Len Fitzgerald was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame as an inaugural member in recognition of his outstanding career.

Guernsey Number: 10Years of Service: 1959-1971Games: 215Goals: 151Vice Captain: 1969Best and Fairest: 1968Premierships: 1967,1968,1969,1970Club Leading Goalkicker: 1961 (26 Goals)State Games: 13All Australian: 1966,1969Member – The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year: 1966,1968,1969
Member – Jack Oatey Vintage 21 Team
Member – Sturt Hall of FameInaugural Member – South Australian Football Hall of Fame

An inspirational, versatile, determined and skilful footballer, blond haired and strongly built, Schoff was one of the greatest players to play at Unley, able to play in practically any position, he was rarely beaten whether playing a key position in the backlines or in attack, the quintessential “jack of all trades” type player and was used to telling effect by Jack Oatey in the 1960’s. He played in four premiership teams, won the 1968 best and fairest, was named an All Australian in 1966 and 1969 plus represented his State thirteen times.

Predominantly played on the wing throughout his career in the late 1960’s and 1970’s, Burgan had the ideal temperament for the game and was strong, quick, highly skilled, reliable and above all versatile. He struggled early on in his career to break into the powerful Sturt sides of the late 1960’s, but when he did he didn’t look back and went on to become one of the finest and most adaptable players of his era. He played in six grand finals, winning five premierships, was named an All Australian in 1972 and represented South Australia eight times.

A magnificent, dominant centreman who had no peer in the 1920’s, equally skilled with either foot or hand, Richardson was awarded the 1920 Magarey Medal retrospectively after originally finishing runner up on a countback in 1998 by the SANFL. A member of three premiership teams, captain for four years, a dual best and fairest winner and represented South Australia ten times, including 1923 as captain. An outstanding sportsman, he also represented South Australia and Australia in cricket, playing 19 test matches between 1924 and 1936, he was vice captain of the Australian cricket teams tour of England in 1930 and was captain of the Australian cricket team during their tour of South Africa in 1935, he is the grandfather of the famous cricketing Chappell brothers.

Well built and fast, Scrutton was the best wingman in Adelaide in the 1920’s and was also one of three brothers to play for Sturt during this time. He won the best and fairest three times in only eight seasons at Sturt and was an important member of the 1926 premiership team. Scrutton was an automatic State selection in his day and made eight interstate appearances for South Australia and beat his highly rated Victorian counterparts easily.

Guernsey Number: 19Years of Service: 1971-1985Games: 282Goals: 455Premierships: 1974, 1976State Games: 11Runner Up – Magarey Medal: 1973
Member – The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year: 1971,1972,1973,1975,1976,1982Member – Jack Oatey Vintage 21 TeamMember – SANFL Indigenous Team of the CenturyMember – Northern Territory Team of the Century
Member – AFL Indigenous Team of the CenturyInaugural Member – Sturt Hall of FameInaugural Member – South Australian Football Hall of Fame

Of all the footballers to play at Unley in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, the fastest was Michael ‘The Flash’ Graham, he was “so quick” that opponents found it hard to keep up with him, he was however, not one dimensional, as he was also a highly skilled footballer with either foot or hand and finished runner up in the 1973 Magarey Medal. He was a member of the 1974 and 1976 premiership teams, represented the State eleven times and in 2005 was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century. Michael Graham was an automatic selection in the Sturt sides of his era and is considered by many to be the fastest to have ever worn the Double Blue guernsey.

Originally a brilliant centreman, Halbert then became a dominant centre half forward due to his formidable strength and jumping ability when shifted there in 1964 by coach Jack Oatey. Renown for his excellent disposal, strong overhead marking and impressive ground play, John Halbert captained the Blues from 1962 to 1968 and led them to the long overdue 1966 premiership, the club’s first for 26 years, unfortunately he was unable to play in the 1967 and 1968 Grand Finals due to injury. During his illustrious career he won four best and fairests, the 1961 Magarey Medal after finishing runner up in 1955 (his debut season), 1958 and 1960, was named an All Australian in 1961 and played for South Australia on sixteen occasions.

A brilliant and versatile footballer, Goodchild was often forced in the difficult 1950’s, due to the lack of really outstanding players at the time at Unley to carry the Sturt attack more or less on his own. Well built, determined, very strong and a good mark with an excellent kick, Goodchild would have been an outstanding player in any era of the club’s history. During his career he captained the club for two seasons and won the best and fairest two years in a row, he also represented South Australia seven times.

An exceptional ruckman and dangerous forward who carried Sturt “on his back” during the club’s early years in the first decade of the 20th Century. He lived in Willunga and used to make a fifty mile horse and buggy trip to train and play for the Double Blues, winner of the 1903 Magarey Medal and leading goalkicker for five years in a row, Waye dominated the competition to the extent that opposition coaches used two players against him just to try to contain his influence, he also played eight games for South Australia.

Guernsey Number: 1Years of Service: 1930-1940Games: 138Goals: 561Vice Captain: 1937Captain: 1938-1940Best and Fairest: 1937,1939,1940State Games: 6Premierships: 1940Premiership Team Captain: 1940Club Leading Goalkicker: 1930 (37),1931 (77),1937 (53),1938 (56),1939 (84),1940 (101)Coach: 1940,1946Premiership Team Coach: 1940100 Goals in a Season: 1940 (101 Goals)10 Goals or More in a Match: 6 Times (10,10,12,11,10,10)Most Goals in a Match: 12 (vs Norwood at The Parade in 1940)Inaugural Member – Sturt Hall of Fame Member – South Australian Football Hall of Fame

High flying full forward of the 1930’s and early 1940’s, highly talented and capable of playing away from the goals when needed, he became the first Sturt player to kick 100 goals in a season, after kicking his one hundredth goal during the 1940 Grand Final. He was captain-coach of the 1940 premiership team, won three club best and fairests, was leading goalkicker seven times and kicked 561 goals at an average of 4.06 goals per game for the club, he also represented South Australia six times.

Outstanding fleet-footed rover of the 1920’s and early 1930’s, who was equally skilled with either foot or hand, a beautiful drop kick and regarded as one of the finest rovers of his generation. Barrow was an automatic selection in the State team at the time and played thirteen games for South Australia, he also won the club best and fairest in 1924 and was an important member of the 1926 premiership team.

Guernsey Number: 24Years of Service: 1970-1980,1982-1985Games: 317Goals: 635Captain: 1982-1984Best and Fairest: 1973,1974,1975,1976,1978,1979,1980Premierships: 1974,1976Club Leading Goalkicker: 1982 (98),1983 (151),1984 (102)100 Goals in a Season: 1983 (151 Goals),1984 (102 Goals)10 Goals or More in a Match: 6 Times (10,15,11,10,10,11)Most Goals in a Match (Club Record): 15 (vs West Adelaide at Football Park in 1983)SANFL Leading Goalkicker (Ken Farmer Medal): 1983 (151 Goals)State Games: 20State Captain: 1979,1980All Australian: 1980All Australian Captain: 1980Runner Up – Magarey Medal: 1974Coach: 1989Member – The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year: 1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1983
Member – Jack Oatey Vintage 21 Team
Member – The Advertiser SANFL Golden Jubilee Greatest Team (1952-2002)
Member – The Advertiser Greatest South Australian Team Of All Time (Named in 2014)Inaugural Member – Sturt Hall of FameInaugural Member – South Australian Football Hall of FameMember – Australian Football Hall of Fame

Of all the ruckman to play at Unley, Rick ‘Jumbo Prince’ Davies was simply the best, with his well timed leaps, precision palming, high marking, penetrative kicking and damaging handball, Davies was an inspiration to his team mates, his superb performance in the winning 1976 Grand Final will be remembered for how ever long the game is played in South Australia. In the later stages of his career, when moved up forward, he transformed to become one of the most dominant forwards of the competition and kicked a club record 15.4 in a game against West Adelaide in 1983, he went on to win the Ken Farmer Medal in that same year after booting a SANFL record at the time 151 goals in the season. Davies won the club best and fairest a record seven times, was a member of the 1974 and 1976 premiership teams, represented South Australia twenty times, was State captain in 1979 and 1980, named an All Australian in 1980, as well as being named captain of the team. Rick Davies was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2013 in recognition of his outstanding career.

Guernsey Number: 8Years of Service: 1964-1980Games: 360 (Club Record)Goals: 258Vice Captain: 1970-1972Captain: 1973-1980 (Equal Longest Serving)Best and Fairest: 1966,1969,1970,1971,1977Premierships: 1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1974,1976Premiership Team Captain: 1974,1976Club Leading Goalkicker: 1978 (74)10 Goals in a Match: Round 7,1978 vs Port AdelaideState Games: 14McCallum Medal: 1962Member – The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year: 1966,1970,1971,1972,1973,1975,1976,1977
Member – Jack Oatey Vintage 21 Team
Member – The Advertiser SANFL Golden Jubilee Greatest Team (1952-2002)
Member – The Advertiser Greatest South Australian Team Of All Time (Named in 2014)Inaugural Member – Sturt Hall of Fame Inaugural Member – South Australian Football Hall of FameMember – Australian Football Hall of Fame

Five time best and fairest winner and the club’s longest serving player having played 360 games, the mercurial Bagshaw was simply the most outstanding player at Unley for seventeen winters between 1964 – 1980. Exquisitely skilled, a master of handball, superb mark and having that rare champions ability to remain seemingly unflustered even under the most intense pressure, Bagshaw had the ability to do almost anything on the football field and was also one of the last truly great exponents of the drop kick. He was captain for eight years, played in seven premiership teams, including two as captain, represented South Australia fourteen times and led the goalkicking in 1978. Known as ‘Mr Magic’, the naturally talented Bagshaw was an inspiration to his teammates and will be remembered for as long as football is played in South Australia.

In 1980 Bo Morton was asked to name the six best footballers he had seen at the club since 1930, one of the six he named was Gil Langley, built like a pocket battleship, this well balanced rover was equally skilled with foot or hand and wore the Double Blue guernsey with distinction in the 1940’s. He was captain in 1945 and 1947, won the best and fairest in those same years, was a member of the 1940 premiership team, led the goalkicking in 1948 and played eleven State games. He was an outstanding sportsman and also represented South Australia and Australia in cricket, playing 122 games for his State and 26 test matches for his country.

Years of Service: 1909-1911Games: 39Goals: 33State Games: 9Magarey Medal: 1911Runner Up – Magarey Medal: 1910Inaugural Member – Australian Football Hall of Fame

Brilliant knock ruckman who for three years between 1909-1911 dominated the game in Adelaide. A powerful, running player who could take a strong mark, pick out a team mate with a handball and who also had a superb long kick on him, Cumberland came to South Australia after playing for Melbourne and then St Kilda in the VFL and finished runner up in the 1910 Magarey Medal before winning it the following year. He was a crucial member of Sturt’s powerful 1910 team that narrowly lost to Port Adelaide in the club’s first ever Grand Final and he also represented South Australia in nine State games, including the 1911 Adelaide Carnival, in which South Australia won all four of their games played including a win against the Victorian team and in 1996 was inducted as an inaugural member of the AFL Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career.

Easily the best centreman in Adelaide between 1913 and 1921. Versatile and brilliant, Mayman led the club to its first two premierships in 1915 and 1919 and thus became the club’s first ever premiership captain and coach. He played six games for South Australia and was captain of the State team in 1914 and 1921.

A naturally gifted footballer, Motley was easily the best footballer at Unley in the 1980’s. Well balanced and brilliant, Motley could read the play magnificently and could play at either end of the ground, he had the freakish ability to pull down marks no matter how far out of position he appeared to be. Although he only played 92 games for Sturt, during this time he won two best and fairests, represented South Australia on six occasions and was named in the All Australian team three times, the name Peter Motley will be remembered well into the 21st Century at Unley.

Regarded by many as South Australia’s best pre World War 1 captain, Renfrey was fast, couragous, skilful and able to play in a number of positions and did to Sturt what Jack Oatey did in the 1960’s, lifting the Double Blues from the bottom of the ladder to their first ever Grand Final in 1910 and putting the club on the path that would see it miss playing finals only twice from 1910 to 1926. The inspirational Renfrey played eleven games for South Australia and was captain of the State team in 1911 and 1912. One of his greatest sporting achievements was leading South Australia to victory at the 1911 Adelaide Carnival, with the team winning all four of their games played, including a famous win over Victoria.

Coach: 1962-1982Grand Finals: 9 (1965,1966-1970,1974,1976,1978)Premierships: 7 (1966-1970,1974,1976)Runners Up: 2 (1965,1978)Minor Premiers: 4 (1966,1968,1974,1978)Inaugural Member – Sturt Hall of FameInaugural Member – South Australian Football Hall of FameInaugural Member – Australian Football Hall of Fame

Record

Played

Won

Lost

Drawn

Games

470

314

67%

152

4

Finals

35

21

60%

14

0

Jack ‘The Master Coach’ Oatey was arguably the greatest ever to have coached Sturt, he reigned from 1962 to 1982 and retired a legend of football, leading Sturt to nine grand finals and winning seven premierships. He was a monument to the game, a master builder who picked up a struggling club and painstakingly, but also ruthlessly, shaping it so that it became a dominant force in South Australian football with no equal from 1966 to 1970.